Treating Plagiocephaly

Treating plagiocephaly in infants

Babies come in all shapes and sizes, but their little skulls are soft and somewhat moldable making them prone to skull deformations called plagiocephaly (or flat head syndrome).

Plagiocephaly does not affect the development of a baby’s brain, but if not treated it may change their physical appearance by causing uneven growth of their face and head. Fortunately, plagiocephaly responds well to non-surgical treatments but early diagnosis and treatment are very important.

The key to helping these infants is understanding the causes of plagiocephaly, the diagnostic criteria and techniques, and applying a whole-body approach to treatment. By utilising a combination of cranial techniques, gentle manoeuvres for cranial function, addressing musculoskeletal imbalances and considering the impact of soft tissue tension, you will be able to manage challenges and setbacks, helping promote little-ones continued cranial health and development.

This in-depth course from highly respected Italian Paediatric Osteopath Luisa Miraglia combines assessment, treatment planning, case-studies and gentle-but-effective osteopathic assessment and treatment techniques. Treating Plagiocephaly will deliver you the knowledge and skills to support your patients and improve the health and well-being in both the short and longer term.

Techniques will be demonstrated and practiced via a combination of detailed pre-recorded videos, on fellow attendees and a planned infant clinic to end the day. The clinic is dependent on suitable parents volunteering. We will do our best facilitate this aspect of the course but for obvious reasons it cannot be guaranteed.

If you, or someone you know may be intertested in participating in the infant clinic there are more details here

Learning Objectives

• Explore the types, causes and risk-factors of plagiocephaly.
• Learn the diagnostic criteria and techniques for treating plagiocephaly.
• Recognise the severity and progression of cranial deformities.
• Improve your history taking procedure.
• Understand how Cranial Osteopathy can be applied including;
  • Common Cranial Osteopathic techniques
  • Gentle mobilisations for cranial alignment
  • Balancing the cranial rhythm
• Apply a whole-body approach by addressing musculoskeletal imbalances and considering the impact of soft tissue tension.
• Develop individualized patient care plans with tailored treatments considering age and severity of presentation.
• Build your interdisciplinary team with paediatricians, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals to co-ordinate a comprehensive treatment plan.
• Understand the red-flags, contraindications and precautions necessary to ensure safe and effective practices.
• Learn to assess patients’ progress, track changes in cranial shape and symmetry and, adjust treatment plans as needed.
• Communicate effectively with patients and caregivers to explain treatment goals and expectations.
• Educate families and provide guidance on home exercises and positioning techniques.
• Prepare for longer-term management by anticipating potential challenges and setbacks, and promoting continued cranial health and development.
• Evaluate the efficacy and future of osteopathic intervention, including recent advances and areas for further research/investigation.

Course Details

Treating Plagiocephaly is open to osteopaths of all levels of experience.  The course has a strong practical focus and includes appropriate manual therapy techniques that you can immediately use with confidence in your practice. Best efforts will be made to have infants present but this cannot be guaranteed.

Includes access to around 2 hours of pre-learning videos covering anatomy and other background topics. On the day the course will run from 8:30AM to 4PM. Places are limited to 20 attendees. It also includes morning and afternoon tea, printed course notes and an e-certificate of attendance for your CPD records. The course can be counted as 8 hours CPD.

About the Presenter

Luisa Miraglia has more than 15 years’ experience practicing as a neonatal and paediatric osteopath. She graduated from Italian College of Osteopathy in Bologna (2009) and completed a Masters in Paediatric Osteopathy at the Osteopathic Centre for Children, Italy (OCC) (2019). Luisa has pursued further training in Europe and the United States, engaging in courses and clinical rotations collaborating with recognised leaders in the paediatric osteopathy field, including Viola Frymann, Jane Carreiro, Hollis King, Stuart Korth, Susan Turner, Nicette Sergueff, among others.

Her teaching experience in extensive, having worked as a teacher and clinical tutor at the OCC, as a paediatric osteopathy instructor at the OSCE school, as educational director and teacher for the Master's degree program in Paediatric Osteopathy at the Fulcro School of Osteopathy (Treviso), and serving as vice president of the Italian Osteopathy Association.

Luisa is very excited to be bringing her Treating Plagiocephaly course to Australia for the first time.